Advertisement
Trampolines are always fun, both for adults and children, but they also need to be good. One of the biggest concerns with getting your kids a trampoline is being sure that it will actually work as intended – and, more importantly, that it does not put your children in any danger.
If you are interested in getting any kind of trampoline for your kids, here are some things to consider before you commit to a purchase.
Safety
Safety is vital when it comes to trampolines. What goes up must come down, and if that ‘what’ is your kids, then you want to be completely sure that they are not going to get hurt.
Safety nets and other barriers can be a great way of stopping them from falling off the side, especially after tricky jumps, but it depends on the design. A mesh net works very well, but if that net is too taut or too loose, then it might alter how protective it really is.
On top of that, simple safety features like covered metal bars and stronger components are not always a standard feature. A trampoline that is specifically meant for kids is often a good choice, as long as they have not already outgrown many of the smaller options.
Space
Trampolines take up a lot of room, and there are not many places where you can put them. Water trampolines are good for yards with a large body of water, and indoor trampolines might work if you have a property with an old barn, but most of them are quite large.
Multi-person trampolines will always be the largest, often taking up a good portion of your outdoor space and not giving you as much room to move around. It is worth remembering that you want to put your trampoline in a safe spot, away from anything that children might fall onto and hurt themselves.
Look for something that can comfortably fit in your garden without being too big to use safely. If you only have one child, then a single-person trampoline might be better, although it gives them less to enjoy overall.
Experience
The bounciness and general experience of trampolines are directly influenced by the components and materials that they use. For example, one set of springs might be twice as flexible as another, meaning that the trampoline can bend inwards more for heavier jumps.
While you can go for an ultra-safe and ultra-compact trampoline, it does not necessarily offer anything special, which can ruin the fun for your kids. Designs like water trampolines, which sit on bodies of water, are a more unique experience but require specific locations to work properly.
A trampoline is meant to be fun, so make sure that you put the overall quality of the equipment first. If your trampoline does not bounce much and does not offer much room for creative jumps or movements, then your kids are not going to get much out of using it.
For a more in-depth breakdown of trampoline features and some good suggestions for new options that will keep your kids safe, take a look at Trampoline Flight for some more ideas.